WAG spotlights the new and noteworthy
Hold the martinis
Businessman Chris Blackwell – perhaps best-known as the founder of Island Records – has been connected to James Bond since childhood when he’d lunch at the Jamaican home of Bond author Ian Fleming, now Blackwell’s Goldeneye Hotel and Resort in Oracabessa. He also served as a location scout on the first Bond movie, “Dr. No” (1962). So it’s no surprise that Blackwell is set to unveil a new rum this month that celebrates his long relationship with everyone’s favorite spy. Blackwell 007 ($45, 700 ml) is, according to Spiritedzine.com, a “rich and fragrant cane sugar rum aged in American oak barrels, and both column and pot stills are used in its production.” The limited edition bottle carries some intrigue of its own, via a QR code on the label that enables Blackwell himself to share music, recipes and more. What could be better with the latest 007 flick, “No Time to Die” set to be released in the United States Nov. 20? “James Bond has been a big part of my life,” Blackwell was quoted as saying on Spiritedzine. “It was a pleasure working alongside the ‘No Time To Die’ production team in Jamaica, providing our iconic rum for the set in James Bond’s house, which has made this very special relationship come full circle.”
For more, visit blackwellrum.com.
– edited by Georgette Gouveia.
Tiffany celebrates Elsa Peretti
We’ve always adored Elsa Peretti’s designs for Tiffany & Co., from her iconic open heart series to her sculptural bean motifs to her chandelier mesh earrings. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of her Bone cuff, a limited number of Peretti pieces have been reissued and are making the grand tour. (The first North American stop outside of Manhattan was Tiffany Greenwich.) The collection is comprised of Elsa Peretti Mesh, Silk and Cabochon ring creations that reflect her worldly travels and poetic sense of beauty. Prices range from $2,800 to $125,000. Echoing her deep affinity for nature, exclusive carved stone Bone cuff styles—available in sterling silver with black jade, sterling silver with turquoise and 18-karat yellow gold with green jade—are launching in conjunction with the new collection. The Mesh designs were inspired by Peretti’s trip to Jaipur, India in 1974. With them she signaled a shift in how women wore jewelry, elevating sterling silver and making diamonds and 18-karat gold more casual. One of the highlights of the latest collection is a Mesh necklace in 18-karat yellow gold with 66 round brilliant diamonds totaling 3.72 carats. The Elsa Peretti Mesh diamond collar is intricately woven to flow and drape like fabric around the body’s contours. The Mesh necklaces in 18-karat yellow gold with an emerald tumbled bead (ranging from five carats to more than 16) showcases Peretti’s passion for unique stones. The collection also includes hand-selected and extremely rare Keshi Pearls, a testament to her creative process and enduring style. The Elsa Peretti Mesh large necklace in sterling silver with two rare Tahitian Keshi pearls (more than five grams each), as well as the pendant with South Sea Keshi pearls (more than 4.5 grams) in silk net exhibit her attention to detail and love for organic shapes. All we can add is that we can’t wait to see them.
For more, visit tiffany.com.
– edited by Georgette Gouveia.
Jon Josef Shoes: They Reign In Spain
If you’re seeking a pair of stylish and inimitable European shoes, look no further than Jon Josef. This luxury brand is famous for beautiful shoes made in Spain – but sold at a fraction of the high prices you’d find for comparable quality. “Our quality/price ratio is unparalleled,” Josef told me in an exclusive interview for WAG. Whereas the competition would sell gorgeous leather shoes for anywhere from $300 to $900 a pair, Josef’s price points start at around $145 and range to about $200. The company buys its leathers and raw materials from Argentina and Africa, but they are made softer, pigmented and “finished” in Spain at the factory in Elda. One of the best sellers is the Gatsby smoking slipper, a beauty that can come adorned with a wide array of designs, including my favorite, the ornamented royal crest. Shipping and exchanges are also free, so it’s a no-brainer to have your feet look beautiful. Jon Josef shoes are a stylish complement to your blue jeans or ball gowns.
For more, visit jonjosef.com.
— Debbi K. Kickham.
